Scan barcode
arsnova's review
4.0
Love the multiple viewpoints and it's a concise and comprehensive overview of the Classical Greek age.
rpmiller's review
4.0
Since I have made a couple of comments about the content (which I don't know how goodreads connects these to this book, if at all), spent quite a period of time reading this tome, and had other distracting readings and writings, I will keep these comments brief and connected to some ideas not directly related.
I continue to prefer accounts as close to first hand as possible when I attempt to understand people and ideas of the past. The writing in the final section of this document is far removed from the content, which deals with the period after Alexander the Great but was written by Plutarch nearly 400 years later. Yet, probably due to both literary advances and access to archives, I found Plutarch most interesting and valuable. The biography of Demetrius was the only complete text in the entire book, which probably is a gift of the editors more so than the lack of original texts. All in all, I found the translations and content of significant benefit to my understanding of history and of ancient people. Also, having recently been immersing myself in Chinese history, I find the parallels most thought provoking. The role of women in the eastern world at least gets more press, although the actual treatment of women is similar, although perhaps worse, than in the west. The major difference would appear to be the development of democracy in Athens and other cities of Greece (Hellas), and then its later reintroduction in post renaissance western nations. I have not read of any democratic movement in China until very recently, perhaps a hundred or so years. And while some of the forms and processes are now present there, the dominance of a un-democratic single party likely defeats the will of the people in general as manifest in mostly limited ways. Finally, the rise of the Roman empire and the consolidation of the Chinese nation seem to be closely related in time, and likely in actual though undocumented history by bridging the gap over the silk road.
Sorry, I wasn't so brief as I expected, and have many additional thoughts which I will leave out of this review.
I continue to prefer accounts as close to first hand as possible when I attempt to understand people and ideas of the past. The writing in the final section of this document is far removed from the content, which deals with the period after Alexander the Great but was written by Plutarch nearly 400 years later. Yet, probably due to both literary advances and access to archives, I found Plutarch most interesting and valuable. The biography of Demetrius was the only complete text in the entire book, which probably is a gift of the editors more so than the lack of original texts. All in all, I found the translations and content of significant benefit to my understanding of history and of ancient people. Also, having recently been immersing myself in Chinese history, I find the parallels most thought provoking. The role of women in the eastern world at least gets more press, although the actual treatment of women is similar, although perhaps worse, than in the west. The major difference would appear to be the development of democracy in Athens and other cities of Greece (Hellas), and then its later reintroduction in post renaissance western nations. I have not read of any democratic movement in China until very recently, perhaps a hundred or so years. And while some of the forms and processes are now present there, the dominance of a un-democratic single party likely defeats the will of the people in general as manifest in mostly limited ways. Finally, the rise of the Roman empire and the consolidation of the Chinese nation seem to be closely related in time, and likely in actual though undocumented history by bridging the gap over the silk road.
Sorry, I wasn't so brief as I expected, and have many additional thoughts which I will leave out of this review.
planetlibrarian's review
4.0
*Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*
This book is a collection of translated works by some of Ancient Greece's best (or most well-known) history writers. The field of history as we know it was just getting started at this time (Herodotus, whose work is included here, is often credited with 'creating' history as a field of study), so there is a lot of variety in how writers addressed the topic. The four writers included here are introduced well, with a forward that describes the life, influences, and works of each before getting into the excerpts that have been translated here. The translation was great, and the choices for what were included was done well, especially the juxtaposition between the authors.
This book is a collection of translated works by some of Ancient Greece's best (or most well-known) history writers. The field of history as we know it was just getting started at this time (Herodotus, whose work is included here, is often credited with 'creating' history as a field of study), so there is a lot of variety in how writers addressed the topic. The four writers included here are introduced well, with a forward that describes the life, influences, and works of each before getting into the excerpts that have been translated here. The translation was great, and the choices for what were included was done well, especially the juxtaposition between the authors.
bookishgurl's review
5.0
I received a complimentary ARC copy of The Greek Histories: The Sweeping History of Ancient Greece as Told by Its First Chroniclers: Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, and Plutarch by Mary Lefkowitz & James Romm from Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group in order to read and give an honest review.
…Well-researched, this book is a valuable resource for those beginning their journey to understand our past…
I have recently been studying Ancient Greece and have read quite a bit from Herodotus but have always been interested in hearing from other great minds of the time. Lefkowitz and Romm have produced a wonderful introduction to four distinct and learned voices from ancient Greek historians, Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, and Plutarch. Each section begins with an introduction discussing the historian in question and the time before delving into details of momentous events. Each section helps the reader to step back in time and gain insight into what we know of Greek History.
Well-researched, this book is a valuable resource for those beginning their journey to understand our past. Containing accounts of battles, plagues, and journeys, this book has it all. Each section ends with endnotes containing valuable references and includes an appendix at the end “Warfare and Battle in the Greek World” by Jon E Lendon.
Thrilled to have had the opportunity to read and review and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the History of Ancient Greece. I found the book interesting, and it will definitely be a book I delve back into time and again.
…Well-researched, this book is a valuable resource for those beginning their journey to understand our past…
I have recently been studying Ancient Greece and have read quite a bit from Herodotus but have always been interested in hearing from other great minds of the time. Lefkowitz and Romm have produced a wonderful introduction to four distinct and learned voices from ancient Greek historians, Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, and Plutarch. Each section begins with an introduction discussing the historian in question and the time before delving into details of momentous events. Each section helps the reader to step back in time and gain insight into what we know of Greek History.
Well-researched, this book is a valuable resource for those beginning their journey to understand our past. Containing accounts of battles, plagues, and journeys, this book has it all. Each section ends with endnotes containing valuable references and includes an appendix at the end “Warfare and Battle in the Greek World” by Jon E Lendon.
Thrilled to have had the opportunity to read and review and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the History of Ancient Greece. I found the book interesting, and it will definitely be a book I delve back into time and again.
More...